A FORMER Army officer who was injured in Iraq has chosen a South
Wales college as the starting point of the latest stage in his heroic
fundraising efforts.

Phil Packer suffered severe spinal chord injuries while on active
service in 2008 and was told he would not be able to walk again.

However, he overcame adversity and by December Phil will have
walked the equivalent of 310 marathons in 330 days.

His fundraising efforts to date have raised well over PS1m, gaining
national media attention and several awards.

And most recently he set off from The College Ystrad Mynach's
Twyn Road campus, cheered on by students, in a bid to raise PS15m for
his latest project.

Phil is aiming to build a nationwide rehabilitation facility for
young people called the BRIT Centre of Inspiration - named after the
British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) which he founded.

He hopes to meet and inspire young people suffering with physical
and mental adversity, deprivation, medical conditions, injury and also
young carers as he travels across every county in Wales throughout
October.

Phil said: "This is about providing a physical legacy for our
young people who face their darkest times. I hope that 2,012 businesses
will show their support for our young people who face adversity by
creating a Centre of Inspiration together."

Bryn Davies, principal of Ystrad Mynach College, said: "He is
an inspiration to everybody and we wish him the best of luck in raising
money for his charity and the rest of his massive challenge." | To
find out more about how to support Phil and donate towards the BRIT
Centre of Inspiration, visit www.british Inspiration Trust.

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CAPTION(S):

Ex-Army officer Phil Packer chose The College Ystrad Mynach for the
latest step of his fundraising journey

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